Mt. Pleasant director of planning community development resigns, city contracts for replacement services

By RANDI SHAFFER/@RandiMShaffer

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Mt. Pleasant commissioners approved a contract with Spicer Group to provide professional planning assistance in the wake of Jeff Gray’s departure.

Gray, the city’s director of planning community development, resigned effective the end of last week to take a new job as village manager in Jonesville.

The position in Mt. Pleasant has been posted for potential new applicants, but it needs to be filled in the meantime.

Monday night, commissioners unanimously approved a $19,200 contract with Spicer Group to provide professional planning assistance at a rate of $120 per hour.

“Based on the current and expected workload of that department and the position, it would be exceedingly difficult to leave that position vacant and shift responsibilities to other staff members until a new planner is hired,” City Manager Kathie Grinzinger said.

The city decided to contract with Spicer Group because the consulting firm has already been working with the city on its master plan.

Additionally, Spicer Group has served the city on other specialized projects in the past, and is already familiar with Mt. Pleasant’s zoning ordinances, Grinzinger said.

The city’s planning commission is already familiar with the consulting firm.

The agreement will last the city through the end of September, and funds to carry the contract will come from the department’s existing budget.

“Such an arrangement is very similar to the professional services agreement struck during the vacancy of the DPW director a couple of years ago,” Grinzinger said.

Commissioner Jon Joslin voiced his concern about the number of hours Spicer Group would be contracted to work.

“It looks like we’re not anticipating any more than 20 hours of assistance per week,” Joslin said. “I’m pretty sure Jeff might have worked a little bit more than 20 hours a week.”

Grinzinger said the extra work will be shifted around through the department.

Bill Mrdeza, community services and economic development director, will pick up some of the work and other projects will have to be shifted to a back-burner, Grinzinger said.

“If we find out that we cannot keep up particularly with site plans for new construction or our master plan schedule, we may be back to you,” Grinzinger said to the commission.

Randi Shaffer is a reporter at the Morning Sun. She can be reached at 989-779-6059, rshaffer@michigannewspapers.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/randi.shaffer